Method of producing wood grain surfaces



Nov. 29, 1927.

G. E. LANG METHOD OF PRODUCING WOOD GRAIN SURFACES Filed Dec. 20. 1926 FIG. 1

atzmeqa Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. LANG, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO OXFORD VARNISH CORPORA- TION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

METHOD or rnonuomo WOOD GRAIN sonrncns.

I 'Application filed December 20, 1926. Serial'No. 155,906.

This invention is directed to improvements in the method of obtaining thetreproduction of a wood grain on hard surfaces and the general object thereof is the provision of a process for obtaining an increase in depth of tone and color contrast while effecting a. more accurate blending of the colors and thus more accurately simulating the appearance of a natural wood grain.

More specifically, my invention is concerned with improvements in the process of reproducing wood grain effects by the use of the photogravure process.

Further objects of my invention will become apparent from the hereinafter. set forth description. The essential characteristics of my novel graining process are summarize in the claims. I

I show in the drawings in Fig. 1, an enlarged cross section of an article, the surface of which'has a wood grain finish applied thereto and in Fig. 2 I show a similar cross section of a material having a hard surface and having a wood -grain appearance ef-"- d sible.

fected thereon by a process of a modifie form.

My invention contemplates the provision of an improved method of reproducing the app arance of a natural wood .grain on a bar surface such as metallic sheeting, wherein the actual grain is obtained by the use of a photogravure plate or roll and a transfer roll. The photogravui'e film or plate comprises an etched negative of a wood pznel, the grained surface of which is to simulated. The preparation of such plates or rolls is set forth in. Patent No. 1,548,465 issued August 4, 1925 on the application of James P. Henry.

I have found however, that the desired resultcannot be obtainedby the mere application of a wood grain transfer to the surface to be grained without considerable at: tention being directed to the combining of the ground colors and the color of the transfer ink or-pigment in an accurately predetermined manner and; .even when-such care is taken, the full reproductive effect of the transfer may not be apparent except when the grained surface is viewed from a direction normal to the grained surface. This is due to a considerable extent, to the glare set up by the finishing materialwhich is usually applied in the nature-of a varnish or lacquer,

to protect the graining pigment.

By combining in the ground color, or by applying over the ground color, a secondary d bringing about variations in the tonal de th of the graining transfer and is also hig y effective in reproducing ground colors of certain natural woods when stained or grained and treated with a varnish or lacthe action of the minute quer. In other words variation inthe high and low tone contrasts. is now obtained, which heretofore has not been believed pos- Referring to the drawings in Fig. 1,

represents a cross section: of a metallic panel or a panel formed of other hard material to be grained. After proper cleaning of the surface thereof, I apply abase pigment F which may constitute a ground color and filler. After proper drying of the ground color I then apply a layer or coating G which may comprise a colored lacquer, aint or varnish and which will have a du l or unglossed surface when dry, the color of this coating G corresponding to the general ground color of the natural ain wood to be simulated. Over the full ry coating G, is then applied a pigment layer H carrying in its composition powdered bronze or powdered aluminum or similar flaked material; the mixture being such that the flaked material will not segregate or separate out of the mixture and rise to the surface but w1ll remain homogeneously suspended whenthe layer H becomes'dry. The flaked surface is then visibly submerged somewhat. by a semi-transparent paint or lacquer coat ng I.

The surface to be grained 1s nowin condition to receive the transfer of the wood grain pattern from the etched ihotogra'vu're plate and this is represented y the layer J in Fig. 1. It will be noted that this layer varies in thickness throughoutand that the clear understanding of the obtaining of this transfer, reference can be made to the patent hereinbefore referred to. The graining paste or pigment comprising the layer J however, should correspond as closely as possible in color to the natural graining color of the wood being simulated. After proper drying of the transfer I then apply a protective coating of varnish or lacquer K.

A surface finish in the manner just described will have a, velvet appearance simulating the appearance, for'example, of a natural birds eye maple when properly grained and surfaced and imparts a submerged sheen or luster to the finished surface and without over-prominence of the flaked material.

In Fig. 2 I show a modified method of obtaining the surfacing effect illustrated in Fig. 1. IThe ground color A is first applied and then over the ground color I apply a transparent varnish or lacquer which also carries the flaked material mixed therein. Over the ground color I then apply on a s'emitransparent color pigment C. I then apply the transfer D and subsequently protect the transfer by a finish coating of lacquer or varnish E.

It is to be understood that flaked material may be combined iniany one ofthe coatings underlying the transfer, in a manner to A partly submerge the full visible effect thereof and I accordingly consider the use of the flaked material in an underlying coating" upon which a transfer is applied within the scope of the novelty of my invention.

I claim: 1. The method of obtaining a'wood grain finish on a hard surface which includes the steps of coating the surface to be grained with a round color pigment or filler, apply a dull rying coating of lac uer or varnish to the ground coating, app yingv a flaked pigment to the dull dry coating, thereafter applyin a semi-transparent paint or lacquer to the aked coating, then applying to the semi-transparent coating of paint or lacquer a wood grain transfer pattern and finally applying to the transfera transparent varnish or lacquer. I

I 2. The method of reproducing the wood grain effect on a surface comprising coating the surface with a ground color, applying to the ground color coating a transparentvarnish or lacquer containing a flaked pigment, applying a semi-transparent color coating to the last named coating, then applying a wood grain transfer to the semi-transparent color coating and finally applying a protective transparent lacquer or varnish to the tran fer.

3. The methodof obtaining a wood grain finish on a hard surface which includes the application of a ground color pigment and a flaked pigment to underlie a wood grain transfer pattern and then applying to the transfer a transparent varnish or lacquer.

4. The method of reproducing a wood grain effect which includes the applidation of a wood grain transfer pattern to a surface which has been previously covered with .a flaked pigment wherein the flakes of, the pigment remain visibly exposed and finally applying a protective transparent lacquer or varnish to the transfer whereby the pigment flakes remain visibly exposed in varying degree through the. less dense regions of the transfer.

' In'testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

GEORGE E. LANG. 

